Video Statistics

This shows the amount of views a particular video gets, it shows the gender age and where in the would they are listening of most of the viewers. You can also see how many people like of dislike the video. This is only specific to YouTube users.

Feedback on possible album covers

- Well edited
- Does not fit the genre
- Looks more horror than Indie pop
- The ideas are not so clear

 - The iris doesn't work well the the rest of the eye
 - Least favourite
 - Too bland
 - The different components don't fit together

 - Doesn't have the Indie pop feel
 - Simple and effective
 - Doesn't suit as an album cover

 -  Really well put together
 - Clearly shows the ideas
 - Might have too many X's
 - Favourite

 - The best one
 - The pupil really stands out
 - Matches the genre
 - It all works well together

 - Doesn't look good as an album cover
 - I don't get it
 - Would look good as an album cover just
    not this genre.

First Album Cover

This is the initial idea for the album cover, we all made some very rough sketches of possible covers and this is the first one that has been made into a draft. We are now going to get some feedback on what people think of this cover.

Storyboard

What we will include in our Music Video

This is just a brief list of the things that we will incorporate into our music video to conform to the typical indie music video conventions.

- Musical instruments (In all the videos i have seen so far, every single one of them contained musical instruments, typically a guitar)

- Little colour (This separates it from targeting younger teens)

- No vivid storyline (Typically they just contain a key idea of the song and does not tell the whole story. I think this is because they like to leave it to your imagination, so you can have your own interpretation of the song)

- Indie style clothes (Which will give a clear indication who we are targeting)

Target Audience!

The target audience for Indie music is teenagers from 15 to young adults. This is because the topics sung about in the songs are less easy for the younger generation to relate to. Also while analysing chart music there is a lot more colour and props used in the video which appeals to the younger generation and the reason older people are not targeted is because again the topics of the songs don't relate to the older generation also they prefer the older music as that is what they have grown up with. Take Katy Perry and Jessie J for example both contain lots of colour and there are sweets cakes and toys featured in the video' this is specifically targeted at the younger generation. 

Similar products

This is very similar to The XX music video as they are in one location with a screne behind them which changes in time with the beat of the song aswell. Two Door Cinema Club have more movement within the band and less movement on the screne behind. They both have a similar way of dressing which is typical to the genre and also both have their instruments featured in the music video.

Analysis of the music video



Close ups on the instrument used to introduce the song




When the band are first shown by a long shot it is very intense as they have dull
expressions on their face and they are all stood side by side.





Close up on singers face, again he has the same expression on his face as he did at the start
this continues till the end.





This shots pans across the band, it works well because only a few camera shots are used throught the music video so i hasn't been over complicated but at the same time it is very effective.



Here it is focusing on the background, it continually changes throughout the music video, this has been done by projecting moving images onto a white background, the clips used flow with the tempo of the music.

Here when the beat changes to a lower tone as does the background which turns blue. The colour blue has connotations of sadness and feeling down so this really created that feeling.



Again it's the same shot that has been used many times in the music video. This particular shot is effective because it has the large building in the background, it shows power and strength together with the group in front of the building with the expressions on their faces.



Here the beat changed to slightly up beat with the background mimicking the beat of the song it changed to orange and the movement of the clouds went in time with the music.

I realised here that throughout the whole music video the group didn't move at all yet i still felt that there was so much going on, this was because only the background changes which is where all the movement comes from and although only basic camera shots are used it is still very well though out and it works very well.  

As the song ends a black light slides down from the top of the shot to signify the end and when the black light reaches the floor the sound stops.  

Existing Products Within The Same Genre

The XX crystalised is classed as Indie Rock, so we have done some research into similar products and looked at the typical conventions which we would need to include into our music video.

Similar Bands: 


Two Door Cinema Club


Artic Monkeys


Kasabian


These are popular mainstream Indie bands.

Through researching similar products i have developed an understanding and idea of the typical conventions that are used in Indie music videos. They tend to feature the band or artist playing their instruments, there are normally two or three locations used which are typically in an abandoned area e.g. a warehouse and another widely used location is on a stage often accompanied with bright white stage lights. Indie bands tent to have four or five band members which are predominantly male.

 

This is the typical style for a male or female member in an Indie band. 

  

AS - Essay Question

Describe the ways in which your production work was informed by research into real media texts and how your ability to use such research for production developed over time.

We chose to do a two minute opening to a horror film, so firstly we decided to analyse popular mainstream horror films, from this we were able to take the horror film conventions and apply it to our film, we then had a discussion about the films and we felt we would not be able to achieve something of this level so we then decided to analyse low budget films such as the Blair Witch Project, we felt this would be more realistic for us to achieve. After analysing a wide variety of horror films we had a list of typical conventions for a horror which we would incorporate into our film.

At the beginning of the process we didn't really know what we were looking for, we would just have some basic ideas here and there, but as we moved further through we gained more skills and knowledge to be able to go into more detail of analysis when researching these different texts. 

Re-Evaluating My AS Media Blog

In looking back through my AS media blog I have noticed many errors, firstly I didn't do enough research and planning. Research and planning is essential to having a successful media blog as you discover the typical conventions that are needed to making a good final piece. Also planning is key for the whole running of the year as there are many deadlines which need to be kept to and it would have been far better if we would have stuck to our schedule. 
Another error I made was making my blog using Wix, this was because it was difficult to use and it overcomplicated everything I done. Just posting a simple piece of text took four times longer than it would on blogger because you then have to change the colour to fit with the theme background then there were effects on top of that. So much time went into making the page look good that I didn't do as much important work. It wasted a lot of valuable time.
The thing I feel I done well was using a wide variety of ways to present my work. We made videos about the locations, we used excel for our schedule, pictures and screenshots for similar products and also character profiles which made my blog more exciting.
Three things I am going to do differently this year:
- I am going to be more organised with my work, ensuring I have quality sufficient research and planning.
- I am going to get myself organised and ensure I get all the work done.
- I am going to spread the work load throughout the year so I don't have to rush towards the end.

      

The XX

This is the song we will be using...

You've applied the pressure
To have me crystalised
And you've got the faith
That I could bring paradise

I'll forgive and forget
Before I'm paralyzed
Do I have to keep up the pace 
To keep you satisfied

Things have gotten closer to the sun
And I've done things in small doses
So don't think that I'm pushing you away
When you're the one that I've kept closest

Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh

You don't move slow
Taking steps in my directions
The sound resounds, echo
Does it lessen your affection
No

You say I'm foolish
For pushing this aside
But burn down our home
I won't leave alive

Glaciers have melted to the sea
I wish the tide would take me over
I've been down on my knees
And you just keep on getting closer

Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh
Ahh, ahh, ahh

Placid as I melt into the sea 
(Things have gotten closer to the sun)
I wish the tide would take me over 
(And I've done things in small doses)
I've been down onto my knees 
(So don't think that I'm pushing you away)
And you just keep on getting closer 
(When you're the one that I've kept closest)

Go slow
Go slow
Go slow
Go slow
Go slow

Deciding The Brief

Firstly we had to assign our own groups with a maximum of four people. I am in a group with Laura and Steph. We then had to choose one of thirteen briefs from which we decided to do brief A) which is a promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video and an album cover for its release as part of a digipak and a magazine advertisement for the digipak.
The song we are going to use is crystalised by The XX. It is very well known and unique. The reason for choosing this particular one was because we thought this one had the most potential and we had far more ideas for this one then any of the other briefs.